A Fine at Chester Fairoaks

scarletsfan
scarletsfan Forum Participant Posts: 292
edited December 2018 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

A male warden at the Chester site is imposing a £75 fine on members whose wheel touches any grass.

Anyone know if this is in the club's terms and conditions, or is this guy a bit of a Lone Ranger?

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Comments

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #2

    Not April 1st already is it?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2018 #3

    Don't know but I would be amused if he asked me for £75 but then I do have a wry sense of humour

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #4

    I think that warden has a sense of humour as well. 😄

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #5

    Blood out of a stone, springs to mind cool

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #6

    at least it made people think

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #7

    OK so £75 for wheel on grass, suggestion amounts for other crimes?

    Cutting through pitches? speeding? 

    could mention dogs without leads but I won'tsmile

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #8

    When we were there a month or two back the wardens there really impressed me. I can only imagine that the threat was said in jest as there is no such rule, they do have a good sense of humour. Wardens are naturally concerned about people churning up the grass as at this time of year it takes a long time to repair. Anyway the pitches at Chester Fairoaks are large enough not to touch a blade of grass (assuming your are not using a grass pitchwink)  if you position and retrieve your outfit correctly.

    David

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2018 #9

    It is not usually the width of the pitch but the width of the access road that presents a problem if siting caravan with car, and,I suppose, with some motorhomes

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #10

    One cannot blame the caravan, be it trailer or motorised, for damage to the grass.  It is the operator that causes the damage. Either through incompetence or anti-social carelessness.

    I was on a site of another club a few days ago where ground works were underway to convert about 20 grass pitches to hard standing, and eight-wheel 40 tonne wagons were removing and bringing in material. They did not go onto the grass but negotiated the site roads successfully. However, many of the much smaller motor caravans using the same roads were churning up grass, and lots of mud by the ones that became stuck.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited December 2018 #11

    But,  Navigateur,  we  have  to  admit  there  are  DRIVERS  innocent  and  then  again  there  are  Drivers  yell  and  in  amongst  our  fellow  members  there  are  all  types.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #12

    £75 + enforced latrine duties, there are some cr** drivers out there.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited December 2018 #13

    The narrowness of club site roads often provide inadequate 'swing' room.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #14

    However, unlike MH's with a caravan there is often an alternative. I have seen folk reverse their van onto the pitch, in the process putting some nice ruts in a grass margin, only to finally position it with the power mover. Why not use the power mover to put it on the pitch and avoid the ruts and mud dragged onto the road.🤔

  • Surfer
    Surfer Club Member Posts: 1,303
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    edited December 2018 #15

    Since when has a warden taken on the duties of a PPC as there is no ways that they can impose a fine as that can only be done by the council, police or magistrate. 

    He can issue you with a worthless piece of paper begging for you to give him some money however he should be reported to the CC for trying to collect money illegally if he was genuine about it however somehow i think it was said in jest.

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
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    edited December 2018 #16

    I agree with SteveL that there is often no reason for the damage to grass. I can understand the frustration which must be felt by site wardens who have to carry out the repairs. Many of the wardens are very proud of their site, and why not?

    However, wardens have no right as far as I know to impose fines for damage caused by stupidity. 

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #17

    I'm amazed at how those huge bin wagon drivers negotiate the older housing areas of our cities. I struggle with my car but can with care navigate through narrow streets with massed parking on either side of the road, some very tight bends there too.  What's more I notice the odd caravan and mototorhome parked curb side along these streets, if mine that would frighten me to death.

    I reckon no warden would seriously mention fines, sence of humour required me thinks.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #18

    think you're taking this too seriouslysmile 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #19

    also on our estate, a with serveral cul-de-sacs, the bins wagon always reverse in, and there are lots of (to a bin wagon) tight curves. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2018 #20

    A little off topic but many bin lorries have rear wheel steering which helps them get in and out of tight spots. Mind you I think I would rather reverse a caravan onto a pitch!!!

    David

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited December 2018 #21

    Hi

    I worked a site a couple of years back where there were two hardstanding pitches that the grass either side was getting constantly trashed. One day I asked our skip lorry driver if he could reverse on and drive off both pitches to see if we needed to do some redesigning. So a six wheel 12 ton lorry (no rear steer) on and off both pitches twice and not a tyre tread touching the grass. I tried it with my own twin axle caravan, no problems. (Pitches opposite still occupied)

    I think the warden mentioned in the op is as frustrated as I get when we constantly have to repair ground unnecessarily. A little time and patience will get you safely onto the tightest space if needs be.

    Fair play to that warden  for having a decent sense of humour.

    Happy New Year Al

    JK llaughingwinkfoot-in-mouth

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2018 #22

    I feel that it might also depend on the tow bus. I know that my X-Trail has a poor turning circle which does make maneuvering in some tight long-standing town car parks more difficult and also reversing a caravan. I almost always use the motor mover though as I need it for fitting the Alko lock anyway.

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited December 2018 #23

    I don't recall ever seeing either a caravan or a motor-home mount a kerb whilst going around a roundabout or junction, no matter how tight the turn. However, I have often seen both caravans and motor-homes allow wheels to go on the grass whilst turning easier corners on site roads despite the white poles etc placed there by wardens, and once saw a member knock down a low wooden fence on leaving a pitch ! Some seem to display a level of inexperience or get in too much of a panic. Thankfully the vast majority appear very capable at tight manoeuvres.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited December 2018 #24

    but there are still plenty of CC pitches that are impossible to reverse a caravan on to without encroaching into the grass somewhere. And it's not always when pitching the caravan that a car wheel strays onto the grass, I find that pitches are only just wide enough for a car, caravan & awning and even when pitched exactly to the peg I just don't have enough room to park alongside my caravan, waste water and Aquaroll without touching the grass.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited January 2019 #25

    Perhaps if the sites were better thought out regarding their design, there would cease to be instances of wheels touching the precious grass. Their  " Pack em in"  attitude is whats really to blame.  ---------------One point in this argument is :-  If wheels on grass is so dreadfully detrimental to the green stuff --- Why are grass pitches still being sold at the same price as hardstanding ones ?. OR even, if the CMC organisation does not want wheels on grass.why are they sold at all .?

     

    "The Friendly Club" copes perfectly well offering their members a choice of pitch types to suit their requirements and have no hang ups about wheels on grass whatsoever. 

    smile

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #26

    ““The Friendly Club" copes perfectly well offering their members a choice of pitch types to suit their requirements and have no hang ups about wheels on grass whatsoever. ”

    Oh yes they do. I’ve witnessed wardens unhitch vans and manhandle them onto pitches rather than risk the driver attempting to pitch.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2019 #27
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  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited January 2019 #28

    Hi DD, Yes I think we members of the C&CC have often seen Holiday site managers of the Friendly club accompany and assist members pitching their outfits, while explaining the site layout and the local attractions. I believe it's part of the customer orientated service for which the C&CC are renowned . 

    I have to agree with you when you said    ,Quote " but I can't see a CC Ltd warden helping in that way; "elf n safety" and all that wink--. Might use his or her little tractor though" undecided.-----Although. during my 30 something years as a customer of the CC,  I personally, have never seen such assistance given.

    smile

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2019 #29

    Although. during my 30 something years as a customer of the CC, I personally, have never seen such assistance given.

    I have only seen a warden assist with a tractor 3 times in the last 10 years that I can recall. Such assistance is not normally required. 

    I find that, for me, when Holiday site managers of the Friendly club accompany and assist members pitching it is more of a hindrance than a help. If that is what floats your boat though K then you made the right choice regarding clubs

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2019 #30
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  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
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    edited January 2019 #31

    I would imagine this post is totally & utterly hearsay tosh  & is another example of complete fiction & fake news.

    The standard & content of some posts on this forum needs to be taken with a very large pinch of salt . 😜